Duplex vacuum cleaner nozzle



April 1968 M. E. BELICKA 3,380,105

DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed June 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. MICHAEL E BELICKA ATTORNEY April 0, 1968 M. E. BELICKA3,380,105

DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed June 21, 1966 3 SheetsSheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR MICHAEL E. BELICKA wwdm ATTORNEY April 30, 1968 ME. BELICKA3,380,105

DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed June 21, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR MICHAEL E. BELICKA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,380,105DUPLEX VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Michael E. Belicka, Greenwich, Conn.,assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporationof Delaware Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 564,465 9 Claims. (Cl. -417)This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner suction tool having a bodyprovided with a pair of opposed cleaning sides used respectively, forcleaning soft surfaces such as rugs and hard surfaces such as woodfloors, the cleaning sides being brought to cleaning positionalternately by rotating the body. The invention is more particularlyconcerned with providing a valve means for the tool which is operatedautomatically by the rotation of the body to blockoff suction air supplyto the cleaning side which is not being used.

Multi-purpose vacuum cleaning tools as for example, one having twocleaning sides either of which may be manipulated to a cleaning positionby rotating the body of the tool about the suction tube with which it isconnected are known in the art. Generally, one cleaning side of the toolis provided with a brush element for cleaning hard wood floors andlinoleum covered surfaces. The other-side does not have a brush elementand being smooth faced, is used for cleaning rugs, carpets and like softsurfaces. The vacuum cleaner tool is generally arranged in selectedcleaning positions by rotating the body thereof one-half revolutionaround the horizontal part of a hollow suction elbow to alternatelybring the respec tive sides to a cleaning position on the floor. Themultipurpose character of the cleaner tool thus entails providing valvemeans in the tool body for isolating the cleaning side which is notbeing used from the suction applied through the elbow thereby tomaintain maximum suction at the other cleaning side.

One type of such valve is shown in Patent No. 1,849,- 515 of Mar. 15,1932, wherein the elbow and the nozzle body comprise the elements of arotary valve so that, as the nozzle body is pivoted around the elbow,communication is automatically established between the nozzle openingwhich is at the bottom and the interior of the elbow, whilecommunication with the nozzle opening at the top is interrupted.However, an arrangement of this type has the disadvantage that it is notpossible to pivot the elbow through the 90 arc required in order tolower the wand connected thereto the floor in order to manipulate thenozzle under low furniture, without at least partially opening the Valveso as to establish communication between upper nozzle and the elbow.

It is also well known to provide a valve within the nozzle which is notoperated by rotation of the nozzle about the elbow, and consequently theelbow may be turned the necessary 90 to bring the wand to a positionclose to the floor without actuating the valve. However, in such anarrangement the valve must be operated by an addiitional consciouseifort of the opera-tor, which is not only a nuisance, but which may beforgotten entirely in which case only the upper nozzle would beconnected to the elbow and no air whatsoever would be drawn through thenozzle in contact with the floor.

The vacuum cleaner tool of the present invention is characterized by thefeature that the valve element therein is actuated by the manipulationof the cleaning tool body automatically upon the rotation of samethrough approximately l80 about the suction tube with which it isconnected, while at the same time the elbow may be turned 90 withrespect to the body without shifting the valve. Thus, for example, ifthe brush element cleaning side (hard surface cleaning) is in cleaningposition and it becomes necessary to use the tool on a ring, the userlifts the cleaning tool from the floor and rotates the body thereof in agiven direction. As the tool body rotates, beyond means therein whichare in engagement with the valve element become operable to shift thevalve from its position cutting off flow from the rug cleaning side toone cutting oflf flow from the rug cleaning side to one cutting off flowfrom the hard surface cleaning side. However, as the valve is notactuated until the parts have been rotated more than 90 relative to eachother, the 'elbow may be turned through 90 in order to lower the wandwithout shifting the valve.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof a representative embodiment of the principles of the invention to bedescribed. The invention accordingly comprises the features ofconstruction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, whichwill be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and thescope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a vacuum cleanertool constructed according to the principles of the present invention,as viewed generally along the line II of FIGURE 2, some parts beingshownin full;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse central sectional view taken along the lineIIII of FIGURE 1, the suction tube to which the tool body is connectedand about which the cleaning tool body can be rotated also being shownin section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cleaning tool as takenalong the line III-III of FIGURE 2, the rug cleaning side of the toolbeing shown in a cleaning position with the valve element within thetool body being shown closing off the suction passage to the brushelement cleaning side;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 except it shows the position ofthe tool body after it has been rotated clockwise -45 when changing thepositioning of the cleaning sides;

FIGURE 5 is the same as FIGURE 3 except the clockwise rotation of thebody has been carried out to a position 90 from that shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is generally similar to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 and illustrates theposition of the body after of rotation: and

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURES 3 to 6 except it shows the position ofthe valve element after the cleaning tool has been rotated so as tobring the brush element cleaning side into cleaning position, the rugcleaning side having been moved to a non-cleaning position, the suctionpassage associated with the latter being shown blocked off by the nowoppositely oriented valve element.

Throughout the description, like reference numerals are used to denotelike parts in the drawings.

The valve actuating mechanism of the present invention is describedherein by way of example as being used in a vacuum cleaner tool.However, it will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art that itcan have a wider range of uses. As for example, it may be used tocontrol hydraulic nozzles having a plurality of outlets wherein it isdesired to supply one outlet while valving off the other, with thevalving manipulation being effected automatically by rotation of thenozzle body.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the vacuum cleanertool includes a body 10 which is comprised of inter-fitting upper andlower members 12, 14 respectively, the members 12, 14 being connectedtogether by suitable fastening means such as countersunk screws 15. Thebody members 12 and 14 may be of various materials but in preferred formare die-cast metal, such as aluminum or plastic material. One side ofthe tool body is intended to be used for cleaning hard surfaces such aswood floors or tile covered surfaces and to that end, is provided withone or more brush elements 16 extending longitudinally of the tool bodyand secured thereto in channels 17 formed in upper member 12 as bestseen in FIGURE 2. The other cleaning side of the tool body is intendedto be used for cleaning rugs, cmpets and similar soft surfaces. Thus, itis comprised merely of a contiguous protruding lip 19 formed around themargin of lower member 14, the lip having a flattened lower surface asat 21. Brush elements are not employed on the rug cleaning side as theyinhibit movement of the vacuum cleaning tool across the soft surfacesbeing cleaned. Each cleaning side of the cleaner tool has a nozzle ofair suction opening which functions in the usual manner. Thus, the floorcleaning side has an elongated laterally extending nozzle opening 20which communicates by means of a passage 22 formed in upper body member12 with a central body cavity generally denoted at 24 and defined bycomplementary recessed formations in the respective body members.Similarly, the lower body element 14 is provided with a nozzle openingwhich communicates with the central cavity 24 by means of a passage 32.The passages 22, 32 are formed in the body by transverse wall surfacesas generally indicated at and 42 and serve to establish communication ofthe respective nozzles with a source of suction air as will appear.

Suction air is drawn into the tool body by the suction tube which isconnected in conventional manner by means of a wand element 51 and hose(not shown) to the motor driven vacuum unit (not shown). Since thesuction tube 50 is in constant communication with the central cavity 24,operation of the vacuum cleaner tool requires the blocking off at anygiven time 9f one or the other of passages 22, 32 to isolate itsassociated nozzle from the suction air. In use, the vacuum cleaner toolwhich provides two separate cleaning sides for cleaning two differenttypes of surfaces, is placed on a rug or like soft surface in theposition indicated in FIGURE 1. When it is thereafter intended that thetool be used for cleaning a hard wood floor requiring the use of thebrush element cleaning side, the tool body is merely rotated 180 tobring the latter to a cleaning position. In so doing, however, it isnecessary to orient or reposition a valve member accordingly and in themanner as will be described later.

As seen in FIGURE 2, the cleaner tool body 10 is mounted rotatably onthe suction tube 50 which in preferred form is an elbow fitting, theelbow being provided at the top center of its horizontal branch 52 witha radially directed pin 53 the purpose of which will be made apparentlater in the description. The cleaner tool body carries therein a sleeve7% which encloses the suction tube 50 as shown and which as will appearis rotatable relative to the tube and the tool body. The sleeve is acylindrical member which is provided at one end with an internal annularrib 71 against the rear face of which abuts the suction tube pin 53.Also, the rearwardly directed face of the rib is provided with a notch72 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the notch normally being displaced45 from the vertical and to the left, as seen in FIGURE 3, of the topcenter of the suction tube 50 when the rug cleaning side is in cleaningposition. A coil spring 73, encloses the suction tube 5t} and iscompressed between the frontally directed face of rib 71 and a flange 54formed at the end of the suction tube. The spring 73 thus normally urgesthe sleeve 70 rearwardly axially of the suction tube. The front end ofsleeve '70 is provided with an outwardly extending circumferential ring74, on the front face of which is mounted a pair of axially directedpins 75 and 7 6 which grid the valve member 60 on opposite faces thereofas shown. A radial plane midway between pins '75 and 76 also passesthrough the center of notch 72, In addition, the sleeve 70 is providedwith a radially extending stop pin 77 which is bisected by this sameplane and which rides in an arcuate blind slot 80 formed in the bodyhousing as best seen in FIGURE 3, the arcuate slot having an expanse ofsubstantially from one end to the other.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the valve member 60 employed in the cleanertool is a snap action leaf spring which is secured at its ends in thetool body 10 at the interface plane of the upper and lower body members12 and 14 as shown. To facilitate anchoring the valve member ends, thebody members 12 and 14 are provided with suitable slotted anchorages. Innormal operative condition, the valve member 69 is biased in onedirection to close off the suction passage leading to the cleaning sideof the tool which is not in use. Thus with the rug cleaner side incleaning position an shown in FIGURE 1 and the floor cleaner side in anon-cleaning position, the valve member 69 is biased upwardly in thearcuate or bowed shape shown and seats against companion surfaces 61formed in the tool body structure. The manner in which the valve member60 seats itself is such that a central portion of the spring extendsacross passage 22 and effectively blocks off communication of saidpassage with the central cavity 24 and the suction tube 50. In thisposition the spring passes between the pins 75 and 76 without beingstressed or distorted thereby.

When it is desired to shift the cleaning sides so that the fioor cleanerside, namely the brush element side is moved to cleaning position, thetransition being effected by rotating the tool body one-half revolutioncounterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1, or clockwise as viewed inFIGURES 3-7, it is necessary to orient the valve member 60 to anopposite position in which it will seat against seating surfaces 62 inlower body member 14 and block communication of passage 32 with thecentral cavity 24. The valve member 60 regardless of its valvingposition is normally maintained under a condition of bias which makes itnecessary when shifting from one to the other position to apply adownward distorting force (as viewed in FIGURE 1) on the leaf spring toovercome the existing bias thereof and move it through and beyond a deadcenter position thereby bias it in an opposite direction. According tothe present invention, this opposite bias is created in the leaf springautomatically by the rotational movement of the tool body, thus insuringthat the valve member will automatically and correctly orient itselfregardless of which cleaning side is in cleaning position.

The foregoing feature will become more apparent by reference to FIGURES3-7 of the drawings with concurrent reference being made to FIGURE 1.FIGURE 3 shows the relative positions of the suction tube 50, sleeve7t), valve member 60 and cleaner tool body 10 when the rug cleaning sideis in cleaning position. Assuming that the floor cleaning element is tobe moved to the cleaning position, the user first lifts the cleaningtool a short distance above the floor employing the wand member 51(handle to which suction tube 50 is connected) to that end. Tofacilitate initiation of rotation of the tool body 10 in the properdirection when shifting cleaning sides, the tool body is provided at oneside with a weight 82 which in this instance gives clockwise rotation(as viewed in FIGURES 3-7) to the tool body. The Weight 82 causes thebody to rotate aproximately 90 to a vertical position, so that the usercan at that point lower the tool to the floor while applyingsimultaneously a slight rightwardly directed motion with the wand 51 tocomplete one-half revolution and thus present in a cleaning position thefloor cleaning side.

The accompanying effect of the one-half revolution of the tool body10 onthe valve member 60 and the valve actuator means associated therewithwill now be described. As seen in FIGURE 3, at the beginning or zerodegree point of the one-half revolution cycle, the suction tube radialpin 53 is located in a top dead center position. For the purposes ofthis description and in actual manipulation of the vacuum cleaner toolto shift cleaning sides, the suction tube 50 is not rotated either tothe left (counterclockwise) or right (clockwise). Thus, the descriptionherein is given in terms of the actual rotative movement of the sleeve70 and tool body as well as the valve member 60 with respect to thisfixed position of the suction tube 50.

The effects of first 45 of clockwise rotational movement of the toolbody 10 is shown in FIGURE 4 from which is noted that everything exceptthe suction tube 50 has turned together. The sleeve member 70 has beenrotated 45 in a clockwise direction inasmuch as the movement of the toolbody 10 carries the leaf spring 60, which is fixed therein, around withit, the spring in turn causing a corresponding movement of the sleeveinasmuch as the spring is engaged by the pins 75, 76 on the sleeve 70.At the end of the 45 of travel of the sleeve 70, the notch 72 in rib 71engages the pin 53 on the suction tube 50, as the coil spring 73normally applies an axially rearwardly directed force against the rib71. During the first 45 of tool body rotation, the arcuate slot 80therein is displaced a corresponding distance because it is formed inthe body. With the notch 72 of the sleeve shoulder 71 now being engagedby the pin 53 of the suction tube 50 and held in that mating engagementby coil spring 73, additional rotative movement of the sleeve 70 aboutthe suction tube is prevented.

With continued rotation of the tool body 10 a further 45 (a total of 90from start) to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 5 no furtherrotation of sleeve 70 occurs because, as above explained notch 72 isengaged by pin 53 on the stationary suction tube 50. However, thearcuate slot 80 of the body moves around another 45 following the bodymovement and the leaf spring valve member 60 starts to distort againstpins 75, 76 into the serpentine shape shown in FIGURE 5, as the pinshave not moved.

Further rotation of the cleaner tool body 10 an additional 45 to theposition show in FIGURE 6 (a total rotation of 135 from start) carriesthe arcuate body slot 80 around to the limit of its travel so that thelower or heel end thereof engages against the radial stop pin 77 on theexterior surface of the sleeve 70. During this third segment of 45travel, the leaf spring valve member 60 has been distorted beyond itsdead center and at the completion of this travel is seated againstsurfaces 62, as shown in FIGURE 6.

During the final 45 of the one-half revolution rotation of the vacuumcleaner tool body 10 to the position shown in FIGURE 7, the sleeve 70 iscarried in rotation with the nozzle body by virtue of engagement of thepin 77 with the end of the slot 80. As the sleeve starts to rotate withthe body, the pin 53 leaves the slot 72 by displacing the sleeve 70 tothe right, as viewed in FIGURE 2 against the force of spring 73. Thus,the suction tube 50 communicates only with the floor cleaning side ofthe tool operating to suck in the particles of dirt etc. worked loosefrom the surface being cleaned by the brush elements 16.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the intended direction ofrotation of the tool body 10 when moving from a rug cleaning position tohard floor cleaning position has to be clockwise as viewed from therear, as in FIGURES 3-7, the latter being facilitated by weight 82 tothe right of center in the tool body when looking to the front from therear. On the other hand, when it is desired to go from a hard floorcleaning Side in cleaning position to a rug cleaning side in cleaningposition, the tool body 10 must be rotated counterclockwise when lookingto the front. The stages of the latter rotation involve referring toFIGURES 3 to 7 in reverse order, the manner of that manipulation nowbeing described.

In changing from a floor cleaning to a rug cleaning side in cleaningposition, the user picks up the tool by means of the wand 51 and holdsit a distance above the floor. The tool body will be caused to rotatecounterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7 since the weight 82 is" locatedat the left side of the tool body. When the tool body swings past ofrotation, the user drops the tool body back onto the rug surface beingcleaned to complete the one-half revolution.

In the course of this one-half revolution manipulation, the sequence ofoperation is as follows: during the first 45 of rotationcounterclockwise (going from position of FIGURE 7 to that of FIGURE 6)the sleeve 70 ro tates with the body by virtue of the engagement of thepins 75, 76 on the sleeve with the spring valve 60, the pin 53 riding onthe smooth face of rib 71. Atthe end of this 45 of travel, the notch 72in rib 71 of sleeve 70 is engaged by the pin 53 on the suction tube 50,which prevents further rotation of the sleeve 70.

During the next 45 of rotation, the valve spring 60 is distorted by itsmovement relative to the stationary pins 75,. 76 to the shape shown inFIGURE 5, and slot 80 in the body has moved 45 with respect to pin .77on stationary sleeve 70. In the third 45 movement of the body to .theposition shown in FIGURE 4, the spring valve 60 ,is distorted past deadcenter and snaps to its position seating against surfaces 61. At the endof :this travel the end of slot 80 strikes pin 77, and further travelsthrough 45' to the position shown in FIGURE 3 cause pin 77 and sleeve 70to turn with the nozzle body, pin 53 leaving slot 72 by forcing sleeve70 to the right against spring 73. Thus the parts are returned to theiroriginal positions, the rug cleaning side now being in operativeposition on the floor and passage 22 being closed by valve 60.

When the vacuum cleaner tool of the present invention is insertedbeneath low overhead clearance objects such as sofas, desks, tables andthe like, the wand 51 can be lowered to a position parallel tothe floorby rotating it to the right as seen in FIGURE 3, thereby rotating thesuction tube 50 clockwise relative to the vacuum cleaner tool body whichremains stationary on the floor. During this movement the pin 53 slidesalong the smooth surface of rib 71 on sleeve 70. Preferably a stop 84extends axially from rib 71 and is spaced approximately from pin 77 inorder to prevent tube 50 from being turned more than about 90 from itsvertical position. Otherwise, it would be possible to turn the nozzle ina counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG- URE 3, without shiftingthe valve 60, which would be undesirable as the upper nozzle would thenbe in communication with the elbow.

It is seen from the foregoing that the vacuum cleaner tool of thepresent invention provides that the valve member therein is operatedautomatically with the rotation of the tool body between its respectivecleaning positions and the proper and automatic orientation thereof isnot dependent upon anything other than tool body movement. At the sametime the elbow may be turned through 90, thus permitting lowering of thewand to the floor, without affecting the valve movement.

Various other changes and different embodiments of the valve mechanismof the present invention can be made within the principles described andindicated in the foregoing, and it is intended that all matter set outtherein or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner tool which includes a suction tube, a bodyrotatably connected to said suction tube and having a pair of opposedcleaning sides which are brought to a cleaning position alternately byrotating said body one-half revolution, said body having passagesextending inwardly therein from each of said cleaning sides andterminating at a central cavity within the body, said central cavitycommunicating with said suction tube, and a flexible valve membercomprising a snap action leaf spring supported in said body arcuatelybiased in one direction with. a portion thereof extending across thebody passage associated with the cleaning side which is in anon-cleaning position thereby to block communication of said one bodypassage with said central cavity, valve actuator means connectable withsaid suction tube and engaging said valve member, said valve actuatormeans being operative by rotation of said body to distort said leafspring to thereby arcuately bias said leaf spring in an oppositedirection and cause a portion thereof to extend across and close saidother passage.

2. A vacuum cleaner tool as defined in claim 1 in which said valveactuator means is inoperative to distort said leaf spring in response torotation of said body through approximately 90 and thereafter beingoperative to distort said leaf spring in response to further rotation ofsaid body.

3. A vacuum cleaner tool as defined in claim 1 in which said valveactuator means comprises a pair of pins girding said leaf spring, meanssupporting said pins for travel with said body in a path extendingcircularly of said axis during a minor portion of the one-halfrevolution of said body and means for preventing circular travel of saidpins during the remainder portion of the one-half revolution rotation ofsaid body, said leaf spring being distorted against the stationary pinsto arcuately bias said leaf spring in an opposite direction and cause aportion thereof to extend across said other passage.

4. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 3 wherein the meanssupporting said pair of pins for circular travel comprises a sleeverotatably mounted on said suction tube and having a flanged face at oneend thereof to which said pins are connected.

5. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 4 wherein the meansfor preventing circular travel of said pair of pins comprises a pincarried by said suction tube and extending radially outwardly thereof,said sleeve having a notch in a face at the other end, said notch beingengageable with said suction tube pin to prevent said sleeve fromrotating around said suction tube.

6. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 5 wherein said sleeveis provided with a stop pin disposed in an arcuate slot of approximately90 extent formed in said body for limiting relative rotation of thesleeve with respect to the body.

7. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 5 wherein a coilspring encloses said suction tube, said sleeve having an enlarged innerpart receiving said coil spring, said coil spring engaging said sleevefor urging said sleeve axially of said suction tube and maintaining saidnotch engaged with said suction tube pin.

8. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 3 wherein said valvemember operates Within said central cavity, said central cavity havingseating surfaces at 0pposite sides thereof adjacent each body passagefor receiving said valve member.

9. A vacuum cleaner tool in accordance with claim 3 wherein said body isprovided with a weight to one side of the axis about which said bodyrotates, said weight being operable to initiate body rotation in apredetermined direction when the tool is lifting a distance above asurface being cleaned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,845 1/1939 Edstrom 15-4172,838,783 6/1958 Allen 15417 2,873,469 2/1959 Borkoski 15417 3,048,8778/1962 Descarries 15417 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER TOOL WHICH INCLUDES A SUCTION TUBE, A BODYROTATABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION TUBE AND HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSEDCLEANING SIDES WHICH ARE BROUGHT TO A CLEANING POSITION ALTERNATELY BYROTATING SAID BODY ONE-HALF REVOLUTION, SAID BODY HAVING PASSAGESEXTENDING INWARDLY THEREIN FROM EACH OF SAID CLEANING SIDES ANDTERMINATING AT A CENTRAL CAVITY WITHIN THE BODY, SAID CENTRAL CAVITYCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID SUCTION TUBE, AND A FLEXIBLE VALVE MEMBERCOMPRISING A SNAP ACTION LEAF SPRING SUPPORTED IN SAID BODY ARCUATELYBIASED IN ONE DIRECTION WITH A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING ACROSS THE BODYPASSAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLEANING SIDE WHICH IS IN A NON-CLEANINGPOSITION THEREBY TO BLOCK COMMUNICATION OF SAID ONE BODY PASSAGE WITHSAID CENTRAL CAVITY, VALVE ACTUATOR MEANS CONNECTABLE WITH SAID SUCTIONTUBE AND ENGAGING SAID VALVE MEMBER, SAID VALVE ACTUATOR MEANS BEINGOPERATIVE BY ROTATION OF SAID BODY TO DISTORT SAID LEAF SPRING TOTHEREBY ARCUATELY BIAS SAID LEAF SPRING IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ANDCAUSE A PORTION THEREOF TO EXTEND ACROSS AND CLOSE SAID OTHER PASSAGE.